AN IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 9

AN IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

MAY BE HELD THIS YEAR. PROBLEMS FOR DISCUSSION. LOCARNO TREATY AND IRAK. THE DISARMAMENT PROBLEM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10.10 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Jan. 7. The political correspondent of the Daily Express says that the rapid march of foreign affairs has persuaded the Government of the desirability of the holding of another Imperial conference at the earliest possible date. The Cabinet, it is stated, is specially concerned ovsr the attitude of the Dominions in connection with the Locarno Treaty. There is also the growing realisation of the Dominions of the grave obligations involved by the Irak mandate, which also will be discussed at the coming conference. The development, of the disarmament problem, similarly, cannot be settled without the collaboration of tho Dominions; indeed, as regards tho Pacific Australia and Canada may claim to have the deciding voice. The Government, the correspondent states, is most anxious to consult. tho Dominions regarding the Singapore base.. The method of spending the grant of £1,000,000 that has been made for marketing Empire produce, it is added, also calls for discussion. This problem has occasioned a dispute in the Cabinet, and henco the money thus far has not been touched. It has not yet been decided whether there shall bo a separate economic conference. Tho Government hopes to hold the Imperial Conference in June, but is prepared to aecept any date not later than the end of October.